Direct order entry by physicians in a computerized hospital information system

Implementation of a policy encouraging direct order entry by physicians in a computerized hospital information system is described. A fully integrated database system was implemented in this tertiary-care university hospital. Terminals are available in the patient-care areas, order entry is uncomplicated, and typing is not necessary. When entering medication orders, the physician can select screens that display either general-order or specialty-order sets that are similar to preprinted-order sheets. A program was developed by the pharmacy and nursing departments to help the physicians learn to use the computer system and to demonstrate its benefits. Physicians were offered a training program that could be taken in one six-hour session or as six one-hour segments. Pharmacy technicians were trained to assist physicians with order entry in the patient-care areas during the implementation phase. Hospital policy requires that orders not personally entered by the physician must be written by hand in the patient chart and reviewed and entered in the computer system by a pharmacist before being dispensed. The delays inherent in this procedure give physicians an incentive to use the terminals. The policy encouraging direct order entry by physicians has been broadly accepted and has enabled the hospital to standardize drug therapy ordering and encourage adherence to the formulary.